During difficult times, two things stand outstanding that can determine outcomes. One is clear intention, objective, and focus and the other is decisiveness, which is a quality of good leadership. The third one is legitimacy and public acceptance of the stands of the contending parties and the results of their respective actions. One has all the good intentions in the world, but the outcome always determines acceptance or rejection or success or failure.
This is, of course, not to set aside the kind and amount of material and human resources at their respective disposal. That too is part of the equation for success or failure.
In the current standoff in Zamboanga City, the leaderships of President Benigno Aquino III and Nur Misuari are tested to the hilt. The outcome of this confrontation can be hardly doubted, but surely, it would not come in handy. There are many others factors that come into play and assume significant roles. One such other factor is the ongoing the GPH-MILF peace negotiation, which is passing through difficult moments. Had this been sealed earlier, it would have deprived Misuari of the intense motivation in “sabotaging” this process. With its fate still hanging in the balance, we can expect more complications in the offing. And it added more reason for the spoilers to make another grand try.
Why did the parties fail to finish the remaining annexes (power-sharing and wealth-sharing) despite their ten-day 40th meeting in Kuala Lumpur? What causes this delay?
The truth is that the current issues in the negotiating table are hard and difficult. Power is not only hard to give and get but it is the real essence of genuine autonomy. Without exception, whoever is in the negotiating table would also find them very difficult.
Finger-pointing will never help especially in an undertaking that requires partnership and problem-solving mode. First, in finger-pointing only two fingers are directed to the accused while three others point back to the accusers. And second, like the adage, “don’t curse the darkness, light a candle”, the parties must jointly or unilaterally search their souls as well as their respective methods of doing their internal working to find out where the causes are. Perhaps, what can of great help is to examine themselves whether both or any of the parties is veering too much on legalism when the process is a political process, or whether they are not too rigid and restrictive in their orientation, given the fact that successful negotiation requires minimum positioning by both parties. More seriously, the over-stretching of the application of the principle of ad referendum, meaning, the principal, even without saying, has always the final say, is time-consuming. When negotiators are not given enough mandates, the consequence is that as if one party is directly negotiating with the other party’s principal.
Personal styles of negotiators also play important factor in negotiation. Some negotiators are by nature friendly and amiable, while others are rigid and confrontational. Of course, these styles are not always natural or biological, they can be assumed, as in bad cop and good cop roles.
The need of the hour, indeed, is honest-to-goodness soul-searching, due diligent, and assessment. We see no other better way to handle the situation.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/575-need-for-honest-assessment
In the current standoff in Zamboanga City, the leaderships of President Benigno Aquino III and Nur Misuari are tested to the hilt. The outcome of this confrontation can be hardly doubted, but surely, it would not come in handy. There are many others factors that come into play and assume significant roles. One such other factor is the ongoing the GPH-MILF peace negotiation, which is passing through difficult moments. Had this been sealed earlier, it would have deprived Misuari of the intense motivation in “sabotaging” this process. With its fate still hanging in the balance, we can expect more complications in the offing. And it added more reason for the spoilers to make another grand try.
Why did the parties fail to finish the remaining annexes (power-sharing and wealth-sharing) despite their ten-day 40th meeting in Kuala Lumpur? What causes this delay?
The truth is that the current issues in the negotiating table are hard and difficult. Power is not only hard to give and get but it is the real essence of genuine autonomy. Without exception, whoever is in the negotiating table would also find them very difficult.
Finger-pointing will never help especially in an undertaking that requires partnership and problem-solving mode. First, in finger-pointing only two fingers are directed to the accused while three others point back to the accusers. And second, like the adage, “don’t curse the darkness, light a candle”, the parties must jointly or unilaterally search their souls as well as their respective methods of doing their internal working to find out where the causes are. Perhaps, what can of great help is to examine themselves whether both or any of the parties is veering too much on legalism when the process is a political process, or whether they are not too rigid and restrictive in their orientation, given the fact that successful negotiation requires minimum positioning by both parties. More seriously, the over-stretching of the application of the principle of ad referendum, meaning, the principal, even without saying, has always the final say, is time-consuming. When negotiators are not given enough mandates, the consequence is that as if one party is directly negotiating with the other party’s principal.
Personal styles of negotiators also play important factor in negotiation. Some negotiators are by nature friendly and amiable, while others are rigid and confrontational. Of course, these styles are not always natural or biological, they can be assumed, as in bad cop and good cop roles.
The need of the hour, indeed, is honest-to-goodness soul-searching, due diligent, and assessment. We see no other better way to handle the situation.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/575-need-for-honest-assessment
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